Related content

Young woman loses leg after two slip accidents

Alison's Own Story

The human cost of slip accidents

I worked as a technical instructor in a large hospital. On
16/11/86 I was entering the main hospital whilst taking post to the
sorting office when I slipped on decomposing leaves on the concrete
steps. Fresh leaves had also fallen on top indicating the
decomposing leaves had been there for some time. I fell heavily
onto my right knee. I went home and returned to work the next day
however my knee was extremely swollen, painful, and still bleeding.
I was sent to hospital where it was sutured and x-rayed and it was
found that I had damaged my kneecap, but hopefully time would heal
it. I was still in pain three months later and I was told that I
needed surgery. The leaves were supposed to be cleared on a daily
basis, however, due to staff shortages this was not done.

On the 2/3/92 I slipped again, this time on an unmarked wet floor.
Snow was falling outside when I entered the building to start work.
I went to my office changed out of my boots and into my flat shoes.
I left my office to do attendance figures, unknown to me someone
had mopped the floor and failed to dry it or place any barriers or
warning signs out. In addition, the door mat which was used daily
by approximately 100 staff and patients was too small for the area
of tiled floor and it did not have the capacity to absorb all of
the water being brought in by pedestrians. Some of the water was
being transferred on to the dry floor.

I slipped and fell directly onto my right ankle, I was assisted
to a chair and it was evident that the ankle was broken, it was
also very contorted. I was taken to hospital and placed in plaster
for 6 weeks, however, the plaster was taken off after 3 weeks as
the foot remained contorted. Over the next few years I faced some
32 operations to try to save the foot, eventually, I was told that
I had dystonia caused by the accident and amputation was the only
solution as my toes had by now lost their feeling and were turning
black. I had my leg amputated on 30th May 1997.

One week after my fall the floors in the unit were made
non-slip.

As anyone can imagine, these easily avoidable accidents have had
a horrendous effect on my life. I was an active 21 year old, only
just married when I had my first accident. I remained working until
my second accident and enjoyed dancing, aerobics and jogging, but I
cannot do any of these activities now and spend a lot of my time in
a wheelchair.

Although I have received compensation, I have lost my job and I
will never work again due to ongoing problems. My husband has also
lost his business because he now has to care for me. No amount of
money compensates or prepares you for what has happened to me.